“Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie,” stated Ben Stiller in a recent social media post.
The actor and filmmaker’s comments come after the White House released a video that included clips from several Hollywood productions, notably his 2008 film Tropic Thunder. The video featured military drone footage set to the Mortal Kombat theme song, sparking Stiller’s outrage.
Tropic Thunder is known for its satirical take on Hollywood’s portrayal of war, which makes Stiller’s condemnation particularly poignant. He emphasized the absurdity of using a movie scene to convey real war messaging, stating, “Using a movie scene to frame real war messaging is wild. Reality isn’t a screenplay.”
Stiller’s remarks reflect a broader concern among artists about the appropriation of their work for political purposes. He added, “This White House is so desperate to be relevant in pop culture. It’s cringy.”
In addition to his criticism of the White House, Stiller is also stepping back from his role in the Apple TV+ series Severance. Kogonada is set to take over as the primary director for the show’s third season. Stiller directed the first season, which received strong reviews, and his departure marks a significant change for the series.
Kogonada, known for films like Columbus and After Yang, will now lead the creative direction of Severance, a series that explores themes of identity and corporate control.
The juxtaposition of Stiller’s film work and his recent criticisms highlights the ongoing tension between Hollywood and political institutions, especially regarding the representation of war. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the White House will respond to Stiller’s demands.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further actions from the White House or Stiller’s future projects.
